Derek Peterson to Discuss Colonial Uganda

The Eisenberg Institute continues its fall 2014 programming on Thursday, October 16, 4 p.m., in 1014 Tisch Hall, with Derek Peterson's lecture, "The Politics of Transcendence in Colonial Uganda." The talk follows the Institute's 2013-15 theme, "Materials of History." Link for a lecture abstract. Free and open to the public.

Derek Peterson, Professor of History and Afro-American and African Studies at the University of Michigan, is a historian of eastern Africa’s intellectual cultures. His first book, Creative Writing (2004), concerned the history of Gikuyu-language literature in central Kenya. More recently Peterson’s work has shifted largely to Uganda. His second book, Ethnic Patriotism and the East African Revival (2012), was a study of a Christian conversion movement that provoked eastern Africa’s patriotic community-builders. The book was awarded the African Studies Association’s Herskovits Prize and the American Historical Association’s Martin Klein Prize, and was first runner-up for the American Society for Church History’s Phillip Schaff Prize.

On Friday, October 18, 12 p.m., in 1014 Tisch Hall, the Eisenberg Institute presents the workshop, "In Search of Lost Worlds: The Politics of Material Turns in West African and East German Historiography." Link for workshop details. The panel features Robyn d'Avignon (Ph.D. Candidate, Anthropology and History, University of Michigan) and Johanna Folland (Ph.D. Student, History, University of Michigan). Chaired by Victoria Langland (Associate Professor, History and Romance Languages and Literatures, University of Michigan). Lunch provided. Free and open to the public.

These events have been made possible by a generous contribution from Kenneth and Frances Aftel Eisenberg.